Times



L. H. WHELAN.

TIMER FOR ENGINES. APPuc'ATwN FILED JAN. 3. 1919.

1,306,791. l'atented June 17, 1919.

LEO HEWETTE WHELAl I, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

TIMER FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 3, 1919. Serial No. 269,406.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lro H. WHELAN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoningand State of Ohio, have invent d certain new and useful Improvements inTimers for Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to internal c0mbustion engines, and especially tothe ignition systems thereof; and the object of the same is to producean improved timer for use particularly on Ford cars.

()ne object is to increase theraccessibility of parts so that therepairs and adjustments can be readily made.

' Other objects will appear in the following specification and claims.In the drawings Figure l is an elevation of a portion of a Ford carshowing the position of the timer.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the timer itself.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation from the inside of the cap of the timer showingthe fiber cup.

As is well known, the timer for an ordinary internal combustion enginecomprises a: rotating element or brush mounted on an appropriate shaftwhich is the front end of the cam shaft in the Ford machine; and

a relatively fixed although slightly adjustadvance or retard ableelement bearing several points with which the brush makes contactsuccessively and from which lead wires to the spark plugs. The presentinvention contemplates no change in the rotating element or brushandtherefore the same is not illustrated.

The timer herein comprises a hollow element or shell 1 whose innerportion constitutes a substantially cylindrical body 2 and whose outerportion is dome-shaped or nearly conical, being open at 3 to receive thenose 4 of an elbow 5 which is held removably in said opening by a spring(3 indicated in Fig. 1. Projecting radially from or secured to one sideof the cap is an ear 7 to which is attached a rod which leads throughsuitable connections to a hand lever within reach of the driver, wherebthe entire shell and its (xmtents may be a justed around its axis to thespark as well understood. I have not thought it necessary'to show thewires, except the cable 8 in Fig. 1, but it will be clear that thiscable leads in through the elbow of Fig. 3 and turns downwires-of thiscable.

ward through its nose into the interior of the cap 1, and the Wall ofthe latter is r0- vided with four inside grooves 9 for the our Insidethe cap is placed a which is shown in section in Fig. 3 but omitted inFig. 4, and this cup has four holes 19 at proper points to register withthe grooves 9 so that the several wires of the cable may passtherethrough. Otherwise the cup prevents the escape of grease orwhhtever the packing used within the timer and. through the elbow orthrough the space between the nose and the wall of the opening 3. Withinthe cylindrical body 2 of the timer is placed a fiber ring 12 indicatedin black in Fig. 4 and provided with notches at four points for theplates 13 constituting the heads of the points, which plates are curvedslightly as shown in white in Fig. 4 and have their faces struck on thesame curve as the inner face of the fiber ring 12. The stem 1% of eachpoint leads radially outward through the fiber ring, thence through aninsulating bushing 15 which is seated in a hole in the body 2, andfinally receives a nut 16 at its outer extremit Each are from the cableis led down one of the. Tomes 9 through one of the holes 19, and isconnec with the stem of the point just beneath its head or plate 13;whereas appropriate connection is made from the single wire to the brush(not shown) which rotates within the cylindrical body portion 2 andmakes contact with the several plates 13. I

The brush being mounted on the forward end of the shaft, it is obviousthat in order to gain access to the interior of this timer, it is onlynecessary to remove or turn aside the spring 6 and withdraw the elbow 5which slips along the cable 8 so that its nose 4 comes out of the openinnow nothing hol mg the shell in it can be readily removed, especially ifthe rod is unhooked from the ear 7 or permitted to flex. Assuming-thatthe shell and its contents are drawn shell can be turned aside to giveaccess to the interior for cleaning or repair. Also as soon as the shelland its contents are removed, the brush and its arts are exposed forcleaning and repair. Xfter having received proper attention, the partsare restored by a reversal of this operation and without the necessityfor tools. Thus it will be seen that I have produced a timer which isextremely place, and

3 of the cap 1. There is Patented June 17, 1919.

away from the brush, the

simple efiicient. The primary objects are thoserfirst set forth. above.

The foregoing'description and the drawings have reference to what may beconsidpedient and-fall within the having a cylindrical with an openingat its apex, the inner wall the body having ered the preferred orapproved form of my invention. it 1s to be understoodthat I may Ibody'and a conical cap of said cap being grooved toward the openholesopposite said grooves, a series of points whose stems are mountedthrough said holes and insulated from the body, and a fiber cup withinsaid shell and having holes opposite said grooves;

of a tubular member mounted rotatably 1n saidopening and serving as aconduit for the cable and the grooves and holes as passage ways for therespective 'ires thereof, for the purpose set forth.

2. In atimer, the combination with a shell having cylindrical body and aconical cap with an opening at apex, the inner wall of said cap beinggrooved toward the opening and the body having holesopposite. saidgrooves, a series of points whose stems are mounted through said holesand insulated from the body, and a fiber cup within said shell andhaving holes opposite said grooves; f an elbow whereof one arm ismounted rot-atably in saidopening in the cap, the elbow servlng as acondult for the cable and the grooves and holes as passage ways for therespective wires thereof, and a spring hearing normally on the angle of.the elbow, for

set forth. c v the combination with an eland a spring bearing northepurpose 3. In a timer, bow for the cable,

mally against'its angle; of a shell having a cylindrical body and aconical cap with an opening receiving one arm of the elbow, the

same being borne thereinto by the spring, a fiber cup within the cap ofsaid shell and pierced with openings for the wires of said cable, and aplurality of points within the body of said shell and insulatedtherefrom.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature 5 in presence of two witnesses.

V LEO HENVETTE WHELAN. Witnesses: i

Jenn S. RUTH, ISABEL MERCER.

